Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Cooling Fan Short Cycling

There are some variations on number of fans and fan operation between models. Have you just one fan?

I think I would start diagnosis by checking normal operation with a/c off. At idle, alternator loaded with headlights and other accessories on will the car temp rise to the point where fan comes on, temp drops and fan goes off?

The a/c should bring fan on at high speed; repeat above and turn a/c on when fan comes on and see if speed changes.

From what I've read Zetec's tend to run hotter than v6 so where as my cars are usually in the 'NOR' part of gauge, yours might normally be in the 'MAL' part.